Safety system for theaters.



No. 780,546. PATENTED JAN. 24, 1905. G. WEISS & J. ZIMMER.

SAFETY SYSTEM FOR THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28. 1904.

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No. 780,546. PATENTED JANS24, 1905.. I

G. WEISS & J. ZIMMER. SAFETY SYSTEM FOR THEATERS.

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APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 28. 1904.

No. 780,546. PATENTED JAN. 24, 1905.

G. WEISS &- J. ZI-MMBR.

SAFETY SYSTEM FOR THEATERS.

APPLICATION rum) JAILZB. 1904. 4

WI F IMEE I PATENTED JAN. 24, 1905. G. WE'ISS & J. ZIMMER. SAFETYSYSTEMFOR THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented January 24, 19C5.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WEISS AND JOHN ZIMMER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SAFETY SYSTEM FOR THEATERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,546, dated January24, 1905. Application filed January 28,1904. Serial No. 191,026.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE WEISS and JOHN ZIMMER, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SafetySystems for Theaters, of which the following is a speci-.

. weight of the water in the curtain overcomes the counterbalance.

The invention further refers-to a system of pipes for supplying water tosaid curtain,

also for supplying water to counterbalancingreceptacles for operatingthe emergency-exits in the auditorium and for opening the ventilatorsover the stage.

It further refers to means for automatically admitting water to saidpipe system, and, further, to various constructional details hereinafterpointed out.

In the system hereinbefore outlined a double thick sheet-metal watercontaining firecurtain slidably mounted upon the proscenium-wall in aposition to close the proscenium-arch when the curtain is lowered isprovided, and this curtain is counterbalanced by a water cylinderadapted to be filled and emptied to respectively raise and. lower thecurtain when the latter is not in use as a firecurtain. Thestage-ventilators, required by ordinance in many cities to carry thesmoke and flame away from the auditorium in case of a fire on the stage,are pivotally mounted in the ventilator-shaft in the roof of the theaterbuilding, and are similarly counterbalanced by another water-cylinder,while the emergency-exits in various parts of the theater are arrangedto be closed by vertically-slidable doors, likewise counterbalanced byWater-oylindersarranged so that. one weightcylinder operates only onedoor, or so that several doors are operated by a single cylinder. Eachof the counterbalancing watercylinders is connected with thewater-supply for the system, and this water-supply maybe either the citywater-pressure or a special pump and elevated tank service.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in the nature of adiagram, illustrating our invention as installed in a theaterbuilding.Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified form of said invention. Fig.3 is a top plan view of the curtain illustrated, in Fig. 2, showing alsothe arrangement of the supporting cables for said curtain. Fig. 4 is adetail view illustrating the water-tight joint between the verticalfixed water-supply pipe and the movable curtain. Fig. '5 is a transverseview through the curtain on dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 4, showing the meansof attaching the supporting-cable to the, curtain. Fig. 6 is afragmental view through one edge of the curtain shown in Fig. 2, saidview being taken on dotted line 6 6 of said figure. Fig. 7 is a detailview showing one of the thermally-operated valves-by means of which thesystem is automatically opened to waterpressure in case of fire. Fig. 8is a transverse fragmental View throughthe edge of the curtain on dottedline 8 of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal central section through thewater-cylinder employed to counterbalance the curtain. Fig. 10is a faceview of the manually-operated main valve by means of which water isadmitted into thesystem. In this view the operating-lever is illustratedin full lines in what hereinafter'will be described as the firstposition and in dotted lines in the second and the third positions-ofthevalve. Fig. 11 is aside view of the main valve. Fig. 12 is atransversecentral section through said valve,showing the valvepluginelevation. Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken through the main valve on aplane parallel with its face, showing the parts in a position to fillthe curtain-weight-that is to say, the first position, Fig. 10. Fig. 14:is a view similar to the last preceding figure, showing the parts of thevalve in position to drain the curtain-weightthat is to say, the secondposition, Fig. 10. Fig. 15 is also a sectional view similar to the lastpreceding figures, showing the parts of the valve in position to drainthe curtainweight and fill the curtain and the entire sys tem-to Wit,the third position of the valve, Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, A refers to the stage, B to theproscenium-wall, C to the proscenium-arch, D to the roof of thetheater-building over the stage, E to the ventilator-shaft over thestage, and F to various floors in the theater-buildin In theinstallation ofa safety system embodying our invention we provide ahollow vvater-tight curtain 1, composed of plates 2 and 3, of sheet-ironor other suitable metal, connected and held rigidly in positionrelatively to each other by means of the stay rivets 4, placed atfrequent intervals between said plates. At their outer edges the plates2 and 3 are connected by means of achannel-iron 5, passing entirelyaround said curtain and being secured between the plates by means of therivets 6. At the side edges of the curtain the plates extend outwardbeyond the channeliron, providing the grooves 7 between the plates forthe reception of a flexible pipe at each side of the curtain for fillingsaid curtain with Water. Upon its stage side the curtain is providedwith nozzle-openings 8, set in a transverse series across the curtainnear the upper edge thereof. When the interior of the curtain is filled,water is forced through the nozzleopenings 8 and discharged in streamsupon the stage. Vertical guides 9, also of channel-iron, are secured inany suitable manner to the inner side of the proscenium-wall, withinwhich guides the curtain 1 is adapted to move. At the upper edge of thecurtain in its longitudinal center a bracket 10 is secured, and from thelower side of said bracket four diagonal braces 11 extend to the lowercorners of the curtain and two vertical braces 12 extend downward to thelower edge of the curtain, said braces being adapted to support theweight of the curtain upon the bracket 10. These braces 11 and 12 are inthe form of flat bars and are placed between the plates 2 and 3 of thecurtain, to which plates they are secured by means of rivets. Acurtainsupport ing cable 13 passes over sheaves 14E, rotatably securedupon the inner side of the prosceniumwall, one end of which cable isconnected with the suspending-bracket 10, the other end being connectedto a counterbalance water-cylinder 15, which cylinder, with a quantityof water which it is adapted to contain, constitutes acounterbalance-weight for said curtain. At its upper end said cylindercarries two ears 15, between which is pivotally mounted a sheave 15".

In the ventilator-shaft E over the stage hinged ventilators 16 areprovided, which ventilators are adapted to be swung upon their hinges bymeans of the arms 17, lixed with relation to said ventilators, and therods 18, which rods are pivotally connected to the ex tremities of theopposite transverse arms 19 of a T-shape lever pivotally mounted beneathsaid ventilators. The main arm 21 of said T- shape lever is connected bymeans of a cable 22 to a counterbalance water-cylinder 23, which cableintermediate its connections passes over two sheaves 24, rotatablysupported upon the inner face of the proscenium-wall.

The emergency-exits from the theater, as hereinbefore stated, are closedby means of doors 25 slidably movable within guides 26, the weight ofeach of which doors (or of several in aconnected series) is partiallycounterbalanced by means of a water-cylinder 27, the weight of whichcylinder alone is not suiiicient to raise the doors 25, a quantity ofwater being admitted to said cylinder when it is desirable to raise thedoors. ,In Fig. 1 the two upper exit-doors are represented as beingconnected in a series and both operated by one counterbalancingwater-cylinder. It is apparent that a number of exits might thus bearranged in a series.

The system of pipe connections for supplying water to the curtain and tothe several counterweight cylinders will next be described. A pipe 28forms one of the inlets to the system, is in direct communication withthe city water-mains or other vater-suppl y, and leads directly to themain operating-valve 29. Intermediate the supply and the mainoperating-valve the inlet-pipe 28 is directly connected with the systemby means of two or more by-pass pipes 30 and 31, passing throughdifferent parts of the theater. For instance, the pipe 30 may passthrough the theater-oflice, having an operating-valve 30 in said oifice,and the pipe 31 may pass through the auditorium and have anoperating-valve 31 in the aisles or in some other place convenient ofaccess. One of the ports of the main operating-valve 29 is connected bymeans of the pipe 32 (forming a rectangular arch over theproscenium-arch) and a flexible hose 33 with the water-cylinder 23 ofthe ventilatorshaft. The by-pass pipes 30 and 31 are connected with thesystem, as herein before stated, by communicating with said pipe 32, andsaid by-pass pipe 30 is also in connnimication with a pipe 3A below thestage-level, which pipe 34 communicates with the interior of the ourtain by means of aconnecting-pipe 35and two lengths of flexible hose 36,communicating between opposite ends of said pipe and the curtain. Thepipe 3 1 also supplies water to operate the water-cylinders 27 of thesystem of doors 25, water passing fromsaid pipe 34. to said cylinders bymeans of a pipe 37 and the lengths of flexible hose 38, connected withsaid cylinders. The pipe 31 also extends parallel with theprosceniuni-wall, bending upward at its end to join the pipe 32. Thispipe 34 thus acts not only as a supply-pipe for the curtain and thewater-cylinders 23 and 27, but also drains said cylinders, and for thislatter purpose is provided with a drain-valve 39, having acounterweighted operating-arm 40, which arm is normally held by itsweight in a closed position. When it is desirable to drain the curtainand the weights 23 and 27, said arm is held-elevated. WVater is suppliedto the water-cylinder of the curtain by means of a pipe 41, rising fromthe main 0perating-valve and connected with said watercylinder by meansof the flexible hose 42.

This water-cylinder is drained through said hose and said pipe, thewater escaping through escape-pipes 43 and 44.- A drain-cock 8 iswater-supply for the systemthat is to say,

with the city water-mains or with a pump (not shown) or an elevatedtank. This pipe extends parallel with the pipe-32 and is incommunication with said pipe 32 at intervals by means of theconnecting-pipes 46, each of which connecting-pipes contains athermallyoperated valve 47, having a weighted arm 47 held elevated bymeans of a two-part cord 47 of inflammable material, the adjacent endsof which two-part cord are connected by means of a link 47, ofeasily-fusible metal. Water under pressure stands at all times in thepipe 45, and should fire occur upon the stage one or more of the cords47 would be burned or the link 47 fused, releasing the weighted arm 47of the valve 47 and admitting water through said valve into the pipe 32.Water in the pipe 32 will pass into the pipe 34 and the flexible hose 36to the interior of the curtain 1, filling said curtain with water andcausing it to settle in its guides 9, thus closing the proscenium-arch.At the same time water would pass from the pipe 34 into thewatercylinder 23, filling said cylinder and causing its weight to openthe ventilators 16 in the ventilator-shaft 3, also filling thewater-cylinders 27 and opening the exit-doors 25.

To afiord a vent for the air, each of the Water-cylinders 15, 23, and 27is provided with an opening 48 in its upper end, and this openingisadapted to be closed by a valve 49, operated by a float and arm 50.

The cylinders 23 and 27 are each provided with a chain 51, intended tobe grasped to lower said cylinders by hand.

The modified form of this invention (illustratedin Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and6) may be called a high-pressure system, inasmuch as a pres sureconsiderably in excess of that usually found in city water-mains isnecessary to operate it. Therefore it will be understood that for thishigh-pressure system a pump (not shown) and an accumulator 52 arenecessary. In the drawings an elevated tank is shown as the accumulator52. The pipe 45 of the automatic water-supply is placed in communicationwith this elevated tank by means of a pipe connection 45*. The pipe 32is in communication with two pipes 37 and has a central depending pipebranch 32, which telescopes with a pipe 53, placed midway of the widthof the curtain and fixed in position between the plates 2 and 3 thereof.A watertight joint is made between the pipe 32 and the pipe 53 by meansof a stuffing-box 54 of usual construction formed in the bracket 10 Thisbracket 10 is secured at the upper edge of the curtain 1 and is providedwith two outwardly-extending studs 10 to which the opposite ends of thecurtain-suspending cable 13 are attached. Intermediate its ends thecable passes over two pairs of rollers 14 -and under the sheave 15? atthe upper end of the cylinder 15. Near its lower end the pipe 53 isprovided with outlet-openings 55, by means of which Water is admitted tothe curtain 1. At its side edges said curtain 1 is provided with achannel-iron 56, set within the groove 7, and within said channel-ironis provided with bearing-rollers 57, rotatably supported upon pivots57*. The bearing-rollers are adapted to roll upon the inner face of theguides 9 and to prevent the curtain from binding in its movement withinsaid guides. The

form and arrangement of the remaining parts of the system are the samein the modified form illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 as in theprincipal form shown in the remaining figures.

The system hereinbefore described in either of the forms shown ismanually placed in service by turning the main valve 29 into the thirdposition, Fig. 10, in which position the parts of the valve are disposedas shown in Fig. 15. In this position of the valve 29 pres sure water isadmitted from the pipe 28 through the pipe 32 to the system, and waterfrom the water-cylinder 15 for counter balancing the curtain ispermitted to escape through the flexible hose 42, the pipe 41, and thedischarge-pipe 44. From the pipe 32 water passes through the pipes 34and 35 and the flexible hose 36 to the interior of the curtain.

As the curtain fills the weight of the water in it overcomes the weightof its counterbalanc ing water-cylinder 15, and said curtain settles tothe stage A, closing the proscenium-arch C. When the curtain is filledwith water, streams are thrown from the nozzles 8 onto the stage. Whenit is desirable to empty the form of curtain shown in Fig. l, the drain-&

valve 40 is opened and the water within the curtain and the pipes 32,34, and 35 permitted to escape.

When it is desirable to raise or lower the empty curtain 1 withoutadmitting water to the system, the main valve 29 is turned,respectively, into either its first or its second position, Fig. 10. Inthe first position the pressure-pipe 28 is placed in communication withthe pipe 41 leading to the water-cylinder 15 for counterbalancing thecurtain, admitting water to said Water-cylinder and causing saidcylinder to overbalance and raise the curtain. When it is desirable tolower the curtain, the valve 29 is moved into its second position, Fig.10, in which position the pipe 4:1 is placed in communication with thedischarge-pipe 43, draining the water-cylinder 15 and permitting thecurtain 1 to fall by its preponderance.

When water is admitted to the system by the opening of either the valve3O or 31, it passes to the water-cylinder 23, to the cylinders 27 anddirectly to the curtain.

l/Vater flowing into the curtain causes a circulation therein,preventing the generation of steam should the heat rise to a high degreeat any point in said curtain. The dischargenozzles 8 also withdraw waterfrom the curtain and assist in maintaining a circulation therein.

The thermally-operated valvcs? are intended to operate the system shoulda fire occur When there is no one in the theater-building. The openingof the thermal valves 47 admits water from the pressure-pipe L5 to thecurtain and to the water-cylinders 28 and 27, automatically lowering thecurtain 1 and opening the ventilators 16 and the exits 25. The openingof the ventilators and of the exits when the auditorium is not occupiedby an audience is not strictly necessary, and therefore if it isdesirable the cylinders 23 and 27 may be removed from the automaticsystemthat is to say, said latter system may be made to supply water tothe curtain only.

Obviously many changes may be made in the form and arrangement of theparts used in embodying this invention without departing from the spiritand scope of said invention, wherefore we desire to have it understoodthat we do not limit ourselves to the precise details herein shown anddescribed.

We claim as our invention- 1. A hollow rigid theater-curtain adapted tobe filled with water and provided on one side thereof withdischarge-nozzles communicating with its interior.

2. A hollow theater-curtain adapted to be filled with water and providedwith dischargenozzles on its stage side near its upper edge.

3. Ahollow theater-curtain of substantially rectangular form, adapted tobe filled with water and provided with discharge-nozzles communicatingwith its interior, said curtain having a suspending-bracket at its upperedge, with diagonal braces extending from said bracket to the lowercorners of the curtain.

4:. In a safety system for theaters, in combination, a hollow rigidtheater-curtain adapted to be filled with water and provided withdischarge-nozzles communicating with its interior; means for movablysupporting said curtain; and means for supplying water to the curtain.

5. In a safety system for theaters, in combination, a hollowtheater-curtain adapted to be filled with water; means for movablysupporting said curtain; means for counterbalancing the weight of theempty curtain; and means for supplying water to said curtain to overcomesaid counterbalance and cause the curtain to descend.

6. In a safety system for theaters, in combination, a hollow rigidtheater-curtain adapted to be filled with water and provided withdischarge-nozzles communicating with its interior; means for movably sup'iorting said curtain; a source of water-supply; and athermally-operated valve for opening communication between saidwater-supply and said cnrtain.

7. In a safety system for theaters, in combination, a theater-curtainadapted to be weighted with water; means for movably supporting saidcurtain; and means connected at all times with said curtain forsupplying water for weighting said curtain to cause its descent.

8. In a safety system for theaters, in combination,a theater-curtainadapted to be weighted with water; means for movabl y supporting saidcurtain; means for countcrlmlancing the unweighted curtain; and meansconnected at all times with said curtain for supplying water to weightsaid curtain for overcoming said, counterbalance and causing saidcurtain to descend.

9. In a safety system for theaters, in combination, a hollow rigidtheater-curtain adapted to be weighted with water and provided withdischarge-nozzles communicating with its interior; means for movablysupporting said curtain; a source of water-supply; and athermally-operated valve for opening said watersupply to weight saidcurtain.

10. In a safety system for theaters, in coinbination, amovably-supported curtain adapted to be weighted with water; aventilator; a receptacle adapted to be weighted with water for openingsaid ventilator; a movable exitclosure; a receptacle adapted to beweighted with water for moving said exit-closure; a source ofwater-supply for weighting said curtain and said receptacles; and athermally-operated valve for controlling said water-supply.

11. In a safety system for theaters, in combination, a rigid curtainhaving a water-space therein with discharge-nozzles communicating withits interior; means for suspending said curtain; and means for supplyingWater to the interior of said curtain.

12. In a safety system for theaters, in combination, a curtain havingaWater-space therein with discharge-nozzles communicating With itsinterior; means for counterbalancing said curtain; and means forsupplying Water to the interior of said curtain.

13. In a safety system for theaters, in combination, a rigid curtainhaving a Water-space therein; means for counterbalancing said curtain;means'connected at all times With said curtain for supplying Water tothe interior of'said curtain; and a valve automatically operated forcontrolling the supply of Water to the curtain.

14. In a safety system for theaters, in combination, a rigid curtainhaving a Water-space therein; means for counterbalancing said ourtain;means connected at all times With said curtain for supplying Water tothe interior of said curtain; and means for Withdrawing water from saidcurtain.

15. In a safety system for theaters, in combination, a curtain having aWater-space therein; means for suspending said curtain; a ventilator; acounterbalance for said ventilator; a sliding closure for anemergency-exit; a counterbalance for said closure; and meansautomatically operated for supplying Water to said curtain and to thecounterbalances for the ventilator and emergency-exit closures.

16. In a safety system for theaters, in combination, a curtaincomprising two Walls and a Water-space between said Walls; a cable forsupporting said curtain; a water-cylinder for counterbalancing saidcurtain; means for guiding said curtain; and means for supplying Waterto said curtain and to said Watercylinder.

17. In a safety system for theaters, in combination, a curtaincomprising two Walls and a Water-space between said Walls; a cable forsupporting said curtain; a Water-cylinder for counterbalancing saidcurtain; means for guiding said curtain; .and means automaticallyoperated for supplying Water to said curtain.

GEORGE WEISS. JOHN ZIMMER.

